Chicago Lions Rugby Club is a rugby union club in Chicago, Illinois, active since 1964. It has men's and women's senior teams and a youth programme running from Rookie Rugby to high school.
History
The Chicago Lions Rugby Club was formerly known as the Chicago Rugby Football Club. It adopted its present name in recognition of the pair of "Colossal Lions" outside the Art Institute of Chicago.
The Chicago Lions were among the teams announced in May 2026 for the Men's Division 1 event of the USA Club Rugby XVs National Championships.
Honours
Honours by the club's count:
- National sevens champions (men): 2007, 2021
- National sevens champions (women): 2023, 2025
Ground
The Lions for Hope Sports Complex, at 2637 W Polk St, Chicago, IL 60612, is the club's official training ground and the home of its men's teams. The women also train there.
Teams and training
The men's fifteens programme fields Division 1 and Division 2 teams. The men's practice schedule varies with the season, with regular practices during the week and games at weekends.
The women play sevens in the summer and fifteens in the spring and autumn, and typically train two or three times a week at the Lions for Hope Sports Complex.
The youth programme runs from Rookie Rugby for ages 4 to 10 through middle-school and high-school rugby. Rookie Rugby is a coed touch programme with three levels: Mini (pre-kindergarten and kindergarten), Minors (1st and 2nd grade) and Majors (3rd and 4th grade).
The club welcomes both experienced athletes and people learning rugby for the first time. New players need cleats, a mouthguard and suitable sportswear.
Club life
The club's aim is to develop athletes, foster leaders and bring people together "through the power of the game", from youth to senior levels.